Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sunday, September 26, 2010

This is in response to Ohio Democrat Party Chairman Chris Redfern’s uncomplimentary description of the Tea Party movement in Ohio (Click for Video) and Governor Strickland’s recent Howard Dean-like anti-Tea Party tirade (Click for Video).

First, we would like to thank them both for acknowledging the hard work of the Tea Party movement in educating Ohio voters on the failed policies of the Strickland Administration, and of Redfern's reign as Chairman of the Ohio Democrat Party. In describing the Tea Party movement in Ohio as, “F***ers,” the ODP Chairman has publicly stated what many state party chairmen, Democrat & Republican alike, have been whispering under their breath about the Tea Party movement for over a year now.

While we do not agree with ODP Chairman Redfern's locker room behavior and potty-mouthed insults, we understand his frustration with the Tea Party as he tries in a fairy tale-like manner to spin "straw," i.e., four years of failed policies, into "gold." He has nothing to spin but wet straw from a state budget deficit of $8 billion, one of the least business-friendly states in the U.S., an unemployment rate of 10.1% , and job losses reaching over 380,000. Furthermore, over 75% of Ohioans think that Strickland's top priority, fixing school funding, has likewise been a failure.

Chairman Redfern's frustration ultimately comes from a more informed electorate, thanks to the Tea Party Patriots movement in Ohio. He reinforced that fact when he responded to calls for apologies from around the state. Rather than apologize for his outburst, he did what those with nothing but a record of failures do – he became even more juvenile in his response by issuing a fund raising letter with the following:

(click to enlarge)

Unlike some calling for discussions or requesting an apology from ODP Chairman Redfern for his remarks, the Tea Party Patriot groups in Ohio feel there is nothing to discuss and we will speak loudly with our actions on November 2nd. As for requesting an apology – we figure he owes that to the residents of Ohio.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

In reviewing the Pledge to America submitted by the House GOP Leadership, my mind kept returning to a scene from Hamlet. Unfortunately for the Republicans it was the end of Act 3 Scene 3 and they were cast in the part of Claudius.

The casting fits them well, over time the GOP has murdered the King Hamlets in its party who would stand up for tradition and good government under the Constitution. Like the young Prince Hamlet, upon inspection of our surroundings tea partiers have found many of our seeming-virtuous representatives sating themselves on a celestial bed and preying on garbage, for their own power and advancement at the expense of their duty and moral obligation to our traditions and Constitution.

The third act of Hamlet consists of the actions surrounding the play within the play, sometimes referred to as "the mousetrap" in which Hamlet attempts to catch "the conscience of the King." Like the actions of the players which frighten the usurper Claudius, the actions of the Tea Party appear to have caught the conscience of the GOP leadership.

Their "Pledge to America" reminds me of Claudius's act of contrition in which Hamlet finds him just after his exposure before the court. Knowlingly caught in his crimes Claudius is praying for absolution when Hamlet comes upon him. Luckily for Claudius, his prayerful posturing leads Hamlet to defer dealing with him until a later time. Hamlet needn't have worried however, after he stops watching Claudius, the king reveals the prayer was all just a show by his comment "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: / Words without thoughts never to Heaven go."

This is a good lesson for the House GOP as they too need to ask the forgiveness of those that rule above them (in this case the American people) for their legislative sins.

The tea party has multitudes of Hamlets that will keep a constant vigil on their actions and would offer them a timely corollary:

Should the Republicans be brought to power in the House in 2010, the tea party will be watching and waiting for real action. Anything less will find them, like Claudius, imperiled electorally by their own devices.